Despite facing a low-profile opponent, the Miami Heat were cable’s top television attraction during the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs.
Game 1 of the Bucks/Heat first round NBA playoff series drew 4.9 million viewers on TNT Sunday night, up 29% from Celtics/Hawks Game 1 last year (4.0M), but down 18% from Knicks/Celtics Game 1 in 2011 (6.0M).
For some perspective, last year’s Knicks/Heat Game 1 on ABC drew 4.8 million viewers.
Later Sunday night, Rockets/Thunder Game 1 drew 4.3 million viewers — up 7% from Clippers/Grizzlies Game 1 last year (4.0M), but down 15% from Nuggets/Thunder Game 1 in 2011 (5.0M).
The Heat and Thunder games ranked as the most-viewed of the playoffs on cable through Monday’s action (eight telecasts).
Ranking a distant third was Saturday’s Grizzlies/Clippers opener on ESPN, which drew just over 3.3 million viewers — down 20% from Mavericks/Thunder Game 1 last year (4.1M), and down 4% from Blazers/Mavericks in 2011 (3.5M).
Bulls/Nets Game 1 earlier Saturday night drew just under 3.3 million, up 29% from Magic/Pacers Game 1 last year (2.6M), and off just 1% from Hawks/Magic in 2011 (3.3M).
Rounding out the rest of the early playoff slate, Monday’s Grizzlies/Clippers Game 2 scored 3.1 million viewers on TNT (-35%), Bulls/Nets Game 2 drew 3.0 million the same night (-32%), Saturday’s Warriors/Nuggets Game 1 drew 2.8 million on ESPN (no game last year), and Sunday’s Hawks/Pacers Game 1 brought up the rear with 2.2 million on TNT (-31%).
Final numbers for ABC’s two playoff games over the weekend should be available later in the week.
(Numbers from The Futon Critic [1], [2], [3], with additional info from TV By the Numbers)
